Woman carjacked at New Salem convenience store

West Manchester Township Police have a suspect in custody, according to Detective Sgt. Jeff Snell.

A 49-year-old York woman escaped injury Sunday after confronting a knife-wielding man who was hiding in the back seat of her vehicle in New Salem, according to West Manchester Township Police.

The suspect took off with the woman's vehicle but was arrested early Monday morning, Detective Sgt. Jeff Snell said.

The woman, who police did not name, was shopping at the Super 7 at 11 N. Main St. just before 4:30 p.m. when she returned to her vehicle and found the man there, Snell said.

"She asked him, 'What are you doing?'" Snell said. "He said he needed a ride."

At that point, the man pulled out a knife with a 4- or 5-inch blade and held it to the woman's throat, Snell said. She pushed him away and got out of the vehicle, but he got the keys from her and drove away.

Police notified all local police departments and entered the vehicle's information into a national crime database.

The man was taken to central Booking and then to York County Prison, after it was discovered there was a warrant for his arrest in York County for a probation violation, Snell said. He has not yet been charged in connection with the carjacking.

When asked if violent crimes like carjackings were common in the little borough of New Salem, Snell said, "Not at all," although he recalled that several years ago, a Super 7 clerk was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot.